Now Google is letting Google Apps and Google Apps for Business users join Google+, which I see as a strategic move for the fledgling social network. While I like what I see so far in Google+, there are mixed reports of its adoption and footprint in the market. Since I currently work on a federal government project, I am intrigued about the intersection of social media and Office productivity applications since I currently work in the federal sector and my office is on a secure network.
I use Google Apps for Business on the backend of willkelly.com. Primarily it powers my email and calendar. To a lesser degree, I use Google Docs and Sites for light collaboration and file storage. While I am not going to give up Microsoft Office unless client or project requirements dictate such a move, I also like to keep up to date on Google Apps for Business happenings by using the service. Though I am thinking about the implications of Google Apps for Business users joining Google+.
Will the entrance of Google+ bring with it a new level of communications and collaboration for Google Apps for Business users? I wonder if it means a future of project team and organizational specific (and locked down) circles where teams can communicate and collaborate with each other? Will Google+ links now appear in Google Apps for Business apps and services?
Google Apps for Business administrators need to enable user access to Google+ with granular enough controls that don’t open up the social media faucet. This level of control can be of comfort to organizations still treading lightly into social media and keep the security and compliance overlords at bay.
A team or corporate wide adoption of Google+ can certainly help past the usual Google+ conundrum of users not knowing anybody on the service. However, are companies ready to adopt it for corporate purposes like internal communications? There is even the potential of Google+ as part of customer and industry outreach through social media. Problem is that Google+ is still restricted to personal users and the options for companies to get online in a similar manner as they do on other social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn has yet to go live.
I would like to see Google+ opening up to Google Apps users drive some new ideas in social media and office productivity applications but I am not expecting to see major developments on that front in the immediate future.
Will Google+ opening up to Google Apps users give the new social media network an edge on the corporate front?
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